For the vast majority of the Sudbury Wolves' roster, Russia is no longer a mystery.

After winning the Junior Club World Cup last year in Omsk, Russia, the Wolves know exactly what to expect when they board the plane for overseas Wednesday morning. And make no mistake, they plan on returning home with the championship trophy again.

"It makes it easier this year because we know what to expect," veteran winger Brody Silk said. "It could be different teams there than last, but we still have to go with the mentality that we want to win."

Last year's experience is invaluable to the team.

"We know what we're in for this time," Mat Campagna said. "Getting used to the time change, the different culture and different foods are important because you don't want to lose weight and get tired or injured while over there, so once we get there the guys who have been there have to teach the others the ropes. They do things totally different than we do over there, so you have to watch your food, eat a lot and stretch and warm up really well and stick with the team. It's a big city, so we have to stick together."

Silk said playing 'Canadian hockey' will help the Wolves recapture the cup.

"It is not as physical and the teams there are good at passing and they're very quick, smaller than the CHL teams, but they are good teams, talented," he said. "We have to outhit them. They have lots of skill guys and when you play physical and put puck in the net there are no worries."

Campagna said the physical side of the game set the Wolves apart last year, and they need even more of the same this time around.

"The Europeans have a lot of skilled guys and play a skill game with the big ice surface and we know that now," he said. "We know there is a lot of skating and skill involved, so we just have to play the Canadian way and finish our hits because they don't like to play a physical game, so I think we will have to enforce that when we play against them."

Perhaps it is due to last year's success, but the players are heading to Russia loose and ready and feeling no pressure to repeat.

"There isn't that much pressure because we are experienced there now," Silk said. "We just have to go and play hard just like we did last year and there should be no problems."

In fact, the players seem more focused on how the trip will impact the team's fortunes once the OHL season begins in September.

"We will be in game shape and ahead of the other teams and that will help us," Silk said. "We'll be in game shape and game form and playing at game speed, which is really what it's about. No one else will have played at game speed yet, so that will really help us. With seven or eight games under our belt already, we'll be ready for a good start."

Campagna is eager to spend time with his teammates overseas, an exercise he believes will serve the Wolves well throughout the 2013-14 campaign.

"We are looking forward to the season and starting in Russia and bonding with the team," he said. "That's something that's good for us for a good start to the season and throughout the season.

"It will be fun going there and defending the cup, but it's really about team bonding and seeing the guys and getting close to the guys because it's going to be a great season."

The Wolves will leave for Toronto with 21 players on Wednesday morning and will be joined in Moscow by European forwards Dominik Kahun and Dominik Kubalik, meaning the team will have 23 players taking part in the trip, as well as 10 team personnel, including new head coach Paul Fixter and new associate coach David Matsos.

The Wolves play their first game of the tournament on Sunday when they face Dynamo-Shinnik from Belarus at noon. They then face Finland's HPK on Monday at noon. The Wolves wrap up round-robin action Wednesday when face the Frolunda Indians from Goteborg, Sweden, at 4 p.m.

The tournament will host only eight teams this year instead of 10, with Norway and Denmark not icing teams for the third annual event.